Education funding, pension reform and Gov. Tom Wolf's Cabinet nominees were among some of the topics two top Democratic Senators spoke about during an impromptu press conference Tuesday.

Senators
Jay Costa
, D-Allegheny County, and
Vince Hughes
, D-Philadelphia, stopped by the Pennsylvania Capitol press room to weigh in on a number of issues. The 20-plus minute press conference touched a variety of topics.

Here's a breakdown of some of the issues Costa and Hughes spoke about on Tuesday:

Education funding

On Tuesday, Commonwealth Court
threw out a lawsuit
filed by individuals and school districts. Those suing contended that the state has implemented graduation exams without providing the money it would take to ensure enough students pass them.

"The decision that was made today was atrocious and really is affront to all school children in the commonwealth," Hughes said.

Hughes compared the conditions of schools today to the ones that existed in the 1950s -- when the U.S. Supreme Court decided on Brown v. Board of Education. Terrible conditions still exist in many school districts across Pennsylvania, he said.

"What happened in the court today, underscores why, at the very least, the governor's budget proposal, in terms of funding for basic education and relief for lower income communities across the state of Pennsylvania, needs to be put in place."

Pension reform and property taxes

Costa said he expects lawmakers to be talking about the
GOP property tax proposal
this week and to have conversations about pension reform in May.

But, Costa said, he would rather the Pennsylvania General Assembly discuss these things together and not separated into pieces.

"We don't want to go down the path where we start to peel off parts of what the governor has put forth," Costa said. "What he has put forth is a holistic approach to addressing these issues and satisfying budget obligations and we want to stick to that conversation."

Expanding gambling in Pennsylvania

The General Assembly has heard proposals for increasing the state's gambling revenues by expanding what kinds of games are allowed in Pennsylvania --
including online gambling
.

Costa said he does not know if the proposals have generated a lot of interest outside of the Capitol. Costa said he's willing to look at the proposals.

Acting Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Marcus Brown

Since being nominated by Wolf,
Brown
has been involved in a series of controversies that have led to lawmakers, retired state troopers and countless online commenters to call for his resignation.

Costa, who recently met with Brown, said he was very impressed with the acting commissioner and was surprised that some people are making issues about his appointment.

The Cumberland County District Attorney is investigating Brown after he
removed signs that criticized him
for wearing the Pennsylvania State Police uniform without serving on the force before he was nominated.

The signs, which read "Marcus Brown didn't earn it" and "Marcus Brown don't wear it," were placed along Orrs Bridge Road in Hampden Township. Brown, who was secretly videotaped removing the signs, has since
apologized
for his actions.

"That was not his best day, in terms of judgement," Hughes said. "But on the whole, I think he rises about that."